Perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are synthetic chemicals used in many industrial and chemical products that are persistent in the environment. Exposure to general population to PFASs is inevitable mainly through oral routes but also inhalation and dermal routes as traces are found in drinking water, food packaging materials, foods, consuming materials. PFASs are able to cross-placental barrier and was detected in cord blood leading prenatal exposure and breastmilk leading infant exposure. Several PFASs are identified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Developmental and reproductive toxicity from polyfluoroalkyl substances involve complex molecular mechanism, mostly involving nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha and differ according to the compound and host related factors. Low birth weight, immunotoxicity, thyroid disruption, pregnancy-induced hypertension, delayed menarche, increased serum levels of cholesterol, reduced semen quality, testicular volume and testosterone levels, reduced time of breastfeeding, and reduced mammary gland development along with increased time to pregnancy are reported globally; while epidemiological evidence is still contradictory and many are restricted to perflorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanic acid. More longitudinal epidemiological studies are needed to ascertain human endpoints with molecular mechanisms along with coexposure and mix exposures for risk assessment.